Sarada Math nun dead

Pravrajika Santoshprana, the founder-secretary of the Ramakrishna Sarada Mission centre at Khonsa in Arunachal Pradesh, died on Thursday following a cardio-respiratory failure.

The nun breathed her last at Sri Sarada Math, the headquarters of the Ramakrishna Sarada Mission, in Dakshineswar.

The Pravrajika was a disciple of Swami Vishuddhananda, the eighth president of the Ramakrishna Math and Mission, and joined Sri Sarada Math in 1957.

She was ordained into sannyasa in 1967 by Pravrajika Bharatiprana, the first president of Sri Sarada Math. From 1959 to 1972 she served at various centres of the Ramakrishna Sarada Mission in Bengal.

In December 1972, she was sent to Khonsa to establish a school for girls. The school opened in February 1973. Failing health prompted her to retire in 1996 and she came to stay at Sri Sarada Math.

“Her pioneering service in the field of girls’ education is remembered with love and gratitude by the people of Arunachal Pradesh. She always prayed for the children of the state,” said a Math functionary. Her departure coincided with Arunachal Day — February 20.

Cognizant Foundation representatives and a Ramakrishna Sarada Mission Matri Bhavan nun at the hospital on Friday for the inauguration of equipment worth over Rs 19 lakh donated by the organisation. (Swati Chakraborty)